Machine or apparatus for shaping metal tubes, containers, and the like



Feb. 3, 1942. J. A. DOVE 2,272,111

MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR SHAPING METAL TUBES, CONTAINERS, AND THE LIKEFiled April 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

In venlor by I Feb. 3, 1942: J. A. DOVE 2,272,111

MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR SHAPING METAL TUBES, CONTAINERS, AND THE LIKEFiled April 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o l/ I/ I 32 Inventor Johnfiflove,

N All ney J. A.'DOVE Feb. 3, N42

MACHINE 0R APPARATUS FOR SHAPING METAL TUBES, CONTAINERS, AND THE LIKEFiled April 21, 1939 3 Sh'ts-Sheet 3 Fig. 8.

Inventor Johnflflave, by

Att ney Patented Feb. 3, 1942 1 2,272,111 MACHINE on. APPARATUS FoR SHMETAL TUBES, CONTAINERS, AND

LIKE

John Arthur Dove, Sutton-in-Ashfield, England. a'ssignor to Barringer,Wallis & Manners, Lim ited, Rock Vally, Mansfie'ld England ApplicationApril 21, 1939, Serial No. 269,2"75'v In Great Britain April25, 1938 3Claims.

This invention comprises improvements machines or apparatus for shapingmetaltubes,

containers and the like, and is primarily concerned with the shaping ofthin sheet metal articles by the exercise of pressure thereon at thepart or parts to be shaped. I h

The invention refers more particularly to that kind of machine whereinthe shaping of tubular; cylindrical or annular bodies, such for exampleas sheet metal containers,is eifected by a bulging or expanding tooloperating within the work while the latter is suitably supported.

An important object of the present invention is to provide simple andefiective means for supporting the work in the machine during theshaping operation, and forenabling said work to be easily and rapidlyassembled in and removed from said supported position.

According to the present invention, in' a machine or apparatus of thekind aforesaid there is provided an outer or female die whichaccommodates the Work during the shaping operation and is so constructedthat said work can be assembled within and removed from the die in alateral direction, i. e., in a direction at right angles to the axial orlongitudinal centre of the work.

More particularly the outer or female die'forj accommodating the workwhile being shaped comprises a plurality of hinged sections capable: ofbeing opened for insertion of the work therein and closed upon the workduring the shaping operation; means being also included for releasablyfastening the hinged die in the closed'p'osition.

The invention also includes means whereby during the shaping of theworkat least one "end of the work has exerted thereon a yielding or"resilient pressure. p

For the purpose of more fully describingthe nature of this invention;reference will now be madeto'the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates in part sectional elevation a hinged outer orfemale die according to this invention in the open position, togetherwith an axially displaceable end support for the work.

Figure 2 isa Vertical section on Z 2 o'f'l igure l.

Figure 3 illustrates in part sectional elevation the die in the closedposition,'the axiallydisplacetherein after beingsh'apedythe box havingone end closed and having aside seam which is locked at the end-remotefrom said closed end.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view illus-. trating one methodoflocking the end of the side seam of a box to be shaped;

Figurefi'is asection on6-'6 of Figure '5. Figure? is a-section-on 1- ofFigure 5;

Figure8 illustratesin part sectional elevation a modified constructionof outer die withshaped box therein, andalso including a end supportforthe work.

By way'of example the invention will be described as applied to amachine such as that set forth in thespecification of my priorco-pending application :filed August 30,'1937,.Serial No. 161,707 newPatent No. 2,194,385, dated March- 19, 1940. This machine is for shapingtubular orsimilar articles eitherseamed or seamless and having eitherone end or. both ends open, the

shaping being effected by theapplication of pres: sure on the interiorof the work; there being provided a relatively reoiprocatable headstockand tool holder and means for supporting the work on the headstock so asto present an open end of the work to the expanding tool for permittingentry and removal of said tool. The-tool advantageously' comprises aplurality of pressure members movable outwards to exert pressure on thework-piecefor expanding or bulging same to the required, shape, andmeans are also providedior. effecting relative .rotation and/orreciprocation between the work and the tool during the shapingoperation. Also the headstockv has associated therewith end supports forthe Work between which said Work is releasably clamped or gripped duringthe shaping operation.

5 In theapplication' of the present invention to v a machine as above,an outer or female die Ill,

is suitably fitted'between' the two end supports for thework; sai'd diehaving its inner face shaped" I .to'therequired contour of the wall ofthe finishedi article. This die is advantageously of cy-.

lindrical"o-r'sleeve like formation and is divided;

i l yinto two halves II, l2, one-half l I being suitably tfixed whilethe other'half I2 able end supportsmoved to a position engaging theend'of the Work, and a shaping tool in its operative position within thework.

Figure 41 is an enlarged sectional elevation 'is hinged'to said fixedhalf so as to be capable of being'swung open for permitting assembly inthe die of the work 13' to' be shaped and removal of the shaped article.Ahandle l4 maybe provided onthe hinged half ofthe die for facilitatingopeningand closingv thereof, and means through the hinged die andillustrating a box are providedfor fastening the two halvesintheclosedposition.

Wlier'ef the workisassembled and-gripped,116-.v

spring pressed tween two end supports I5, I6, at least one of said endsupports is arranged to be axially displaced for facilitating assemblyand removal of the work in the machine. For example, one end support Itassociated with the headstock may form part of or be carried by a sleeveI'I that is rotatably mounted upon a non-rotatable boss or the like I8,there being a pin and inclined or cam slot connection I9, 29 between theboss and sleeve and a handle EI upon the latter, so that by rotating thesleeve on the boss the end support I6 may be caused to approach orrecede from the opposite end support I5.

In some cases the outer die Ill may be formed with at least one part ofits length spring-loaded. In other words, the die may be divided in adirection at right angles to its axis, and springs or like resilientelements incorporated at the division or divisions so as to permit of alimited degree of axial extension and contraction of the die. Forexample, one end portion 22 of the die (Figure 8) may be sospring-loaded, by a plurality of spaced compression springs 23 inopposed pockets 24; and with such an arrangement, when the die is closedon to the work and an axially displaceable end support I 6 (such as thatbeforedescribed) is moved up to the work, the springloaded portion 22 ofthe die is axially moved a short distance to compress the springs 23 andcontract said die. moved away from the work after the shaping operation,the spring elements 23 of the springloaded portion 22 of the die Itfunction to displace said portion axially and slightly extend the die.axial movement and prevented from rotation by pins 25 co-operating withholes 26. The springloading of the part 22 serves to assist in releasingthe grip of the outer die on the work and consequently also assist inthe easy and rapid removal of the shaped article when the die is opened.More particularly is this the case where the article being bulged is ofpolygonal shape or formed with flats and/or where bulging is effectedalong a portion of the length of the article or along a portion of thearticle spaced from each end thereof. The die is advantageously securedin the closed position during the shaping operation by a short arm orangle plate 21 fixed to the axially displaceable end support I6 for thework, and so arranged that the action of rotating the sleeve IT to movethe part It up against the end of the work causes said arm 21 to passover the hinged half I2 of the die and automatically fix same in theclosed position.

During the shaping operation it is advisable to fix the container orarticle between end supports, at least one of which exerts a resilientor yielding pressure upon the work. One advantage gained by this is thatany elongation or axial contraction of the work which may take placeduring shaping is allowed for, while another advantage is that thepossibility of the work becoming damaged when clamping same in positionis minimised.

Let it be assumed that a tubular container is being shaped having itsone end closed by a disc or wall portion I311. The open end or mouth ofthe container formed with a curled, or partly curled edge, is assembledover or around a spigot or short annular flange 26 projecting from aportion of the head-stock constituting the end support I5 (Figure 8), orin another alternative the open end may be assembled within an annulargroove or channel or between inner and When the end support I6 is Theend 22 is guided and limited in its a resiliently mounted plate, disc orring.

outer annular spigots. The opposite or closed end I3a of the containermay be gripped or supported by a resilient or cushion member and/or Aninternal support, such as the flange 26, at the open end of thecontainer is advisable, as same greatly assists in preventing inwardcollapse of a seam in the container wall.

A rubber or like compressible pad or disc 28 may be fixed to the face ofthe end support I6, adapted when said end support is moved towards thework to engage the end wall I3a of the container I3 and provide acushion bearing therefor. Alternatively or additionally, the end supportIE may comprise a plate or the like capable of a limited degree of axialmovement relatively to the aforesaid sleeve H or other carrier againstthe resistance of a plurality of small compression springs 29. Thesesprings may be pocketed in the member I6 and in a plate or flange 30 onthe sleeve I1, and headed pins or screws 3| cooperating with holes inthe flange 30 function to guide and limit. the movement of the member I6against the resistance of the springs 29 (Figure 8). Thus the member I6is pressed resiliently towards the end of the container being shaped.When dealing with a seamed sheet metal container, the possibility of theseam being broken or burst is also minimised by the use of acompressible pad 28 and/or a spring-mounted end support I6. Instead of,or in addition to, providing the spring-mounted or like resilientsupport at the closed end of the container, same may be provided at theopen end.

The tool 32, operating within the work to shape same to the internalcontour of the aforesaid hinged outer die, may embody a plurality ofpivoted arms 33 terminating in pressure rollers 34, there being providedmeans, such for example as those described in the aforesaid patentspecification, for variably determining the outward displacement of thepressure members while relative reciprocation is imparted between thetool and the work.

Where the head-stock with the assembled work is reciprocated, means maybe provided for automatically rotating the aforementioned rotatablesleeve I1 carrying the resilient or compressible end support so as topress the latter into engagement with the end of the work andsubsequently remove same therefrom. This may be accomplished byproviding on the sleeve H a laterally projecting pin preferably with aroller, which is adapted to coact with an inclined slot or cam groove ona relatively fixed member so that when the head-stock is traversed inone direction the sleeve is rotated and caused to approach the work, andwhen reciprocated in the opposite direction to recede from the work. Theinclined slot or cam groove terminates. in a horizontal portion so thatwhen the sleeve has been rotated to the required extent the head-stockcan be further traversed without affecting said sleeve.

Where a seamed container is being shaped it is, as aforesaid,advantageous to fix an end wall or base on the container prior toshaping. This serves. to lock the seam at one end of the container; andin order to eliminate the possibility of the seam bursting or collapsingat or towards the open end of the container, said seam may be providedat one or more positions in its length with locking means. One method ofdoing this is illustrated in Figures 5 to 7. The major part of thelength of the seam 35 is formed in the usual manner of two oppositelyfolded edge por- 2,272,111 I I I ofthe work to supportthe same-one ofsaid tions hooked one within the other and cramped together as at 36 inFigure :7. Atv the open end of the container one edge portion 31' of theseam is :entered into the outer fold of a double or ,8 fold 38 formed atthe opposed; edge portion,

"members being provided with an. axial hole for thereby positivelyresisting tendency of the joint for internally supporting the openle'ndoi'the the entryof the expandingto ol'and at least one of said members,being axially'movableymeansfor moving said-movable member into and outof engagementfwith the work?" a die disposed between said supportingmembers: arranged to i circumferentiallysurround th'e work; which die ais longitudinally divided into a plurality of elecontainer. Theprovision of a locked seam suchduo es the'necessity' of employing aninternal supportffor the open end: of the container.

' as above described, however,":eliminates ,or re- It is to beunderstood,however,- that the ma-g chine in i accordance with thisinvention can be utilised for shaping either se'amed'or seamlessarticles; For example, same can ,be used for shaping a container ofsolid'drawn'metalhav j ing an end wall or base integral with thecircumferential wall. I

I claim: 7 1. In an apparatus ;for shaping-thin "metal tubes orcontainers of thekindwherein a rotat-- able expanding tool is.introduced axially within the work to operate on the walls thereof tocause them to assume the conformation of a die,rwork supporting meanscomprising a pair of supporting members disposed to engage theendportions 3 engaging position.

ments, atleast one of which is movable transversely of theaxisof theWork whereby the latter may. be laterally introduced into and withdrawnfrom the die, and :whichdie" is also divided transversely with one.portion thereof mounted for limited axial movement relative to theother; and means for retaining said'die elements in "operative work"surrounding position. I j- 2; fAnapparatus,'ias set forthin claim 1,having resilient means *tendingto axially separate the transversely;dividedparts .of the die, and

means for limiting the extent; of such separation.

- An apparatus as set forth in claim'l, having resilient means. providedat the transverse division of the die tending to vaxially separate thetransversely jdivided parts thereof, and, having said movableworkesupporting member arranged Y toclose said die .parts against theaction of said resilient meansflassaidmember moves to work JOHN. THURnovE.

